Chapter 1085: Pure Yang Realm

Mount Chicheng, Principal's Office.

Having emerged from seclusion, Chen Mobai listened to Zhuang Jialan's report, learning about the various events that had transpired within the Immortal Sect over the years.

First and foremost was the situation concerning the three individuals from Five Peaks Immortal Mountain who were attempting to reach the God Transformation stage.

"The spiritual energy in the locations where the Principal and Immortal Yunhai were cultivating had stabilized. According to Immortal Meihua's observations, this was a sign that their Nascent Soul transformation into a Primordial Spirit had succeeded, and they were beginning to consolidate their realms."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai was very pleased.

If Immortal Chengxuan successfully achieved God Transformation, it would be incredibly good news for their Wuqi Dao Academy.

Once he himself formally reached the God Transformation stage, the Wuqi lineage would be the undisputed top university in the Immortal Sect.

"What about Yuanxu?"

But Chen Mobai quickly realized that of the three attempting God Transformation, Immortal Yuanxu, whom he believed had a strong chance of success, was not mentioned in Zhuang Jialan's report.

"Sometime before the New Year, the spiritual energy in Immortal Yuanxu's seclusion chamber suddenly surged chaotically. Afterwards, according to Yun Yangbing, the Sky Curtain and Earth Vein Management Bureau stopped providing Level Six spiritual energy there, so it was likely a failure."

Zhuang Jialan relayed what she knew. Even though she was Chen Mobai's secretary, information regarding God Transformation, especially concerning failures, was undoubtedly kept very secret by the Immortal Sect's upper echelons, making it difficult to inquire about.

After hearing this, Chen Mobai couldn't help but frown.

He took out his phone and called Wenren Xuewei.

As one of the Immortal Sect's three Hall Masters, she should surely be aware of the situation at Five Peaks Immortal Mountain.

"Hello..."

Wenren Xuewei saw it was Chen Mobai calling and immediately answered.

"I'm going to Wangwu Grotto-Heaven."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Mobai remembered that he still had Heavenly Tribulation essence for the Azure Frost Sword within his domain. He said something to Zhuang Jialan and then transformed into a silver light, vanishing from the spot.

"...Immortal Yuanxu did indeed fail to achieve God Transformation, but I'm not entirely clear on the specifics of what happened. I only know that on the day Immortal Yuanxu failed his breakthrough, Patriarch Yuheng personally intervened to suppress him and saved him from going berserk."

Wenren Xuewei shared what she knew. Although she was the Hall Master of Righteous Law, she found it difficult to inquire too deeply, as she originated from the Jumang lineage.

"Understood."

Chen Mobai nodded, intending to finish his tea and then go to Zhixian Peak to personally ask Qi Yuheng.

At that moment, Pei Qingshuang also walked in. She respectfully handed the Azure Frost Sword to Chen Mobai.

Before coming, Chen Mobai had already sent her a text message, stating that during his seclusion, he had made great progress in the Way of the Sword, including the Azure Firmament Sword Intent. He wished to use the Azure Frost Sword to manifest it and see if he could thereby elevate the sword's grade.

"True Monarch, thank you for your efforts!"

Seeing the Azure Frost Sword tremble as if in joy after it fell into Chen Mobai's hands, Pei Qingshuang felt a slight pang in her heart, but still hoped her sword could evolve and improve through this opportunity.

"It's merely a small effort."

Chen Mobai smiled faintly, put the Azure Frost Sword into his domain, allowing it to absorb the essence of the Heavenly Tribulation's Azure Lightning on its own. He then set down his teacup and transformed into a silver light, vanishing from his seat.

Zhixian Peak.

As soon as Chen Mobai landed, Qi Yuheng appeared before him.

"What brings you here today?"

As Qi Yuheng spoke, a stone table and two stone stools appeared between them. Chen Mobai sat down unreservedly and then explained the purpose of his visit.

"Yes, Yuanxu failed to achieve God Transformation, but Chengxuan and Yunhai both succeeded."

Qi Yuheng directly informed Chen Mobai of the outcome, a hint of regret on his face.

In his opinion, Yuanxu should not have failed.

"How is he doing now?"

Chen Mobai asked about Yuanxu's condition. Although those in the Immortal Sect capable of cultivating to the Nascent Soul realm were all firm-minded individuals, having potentially wasted his only chance to attempt God Transformation, Chen Mobai was somewhat worried that Yuanxu might not be able to cope.

"He's actually doing fine. He personally refined a batch of restorative pills and is currently mending the foundational damage incurred from this failed breakthrough."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai nodded slightly.

"The main reason for my visit is that my Pure Yang Scroll cultivation has reached perfection, and I intend to take that step..."

Although Chen Mobai had previously cultivated a second Primordial Spirit, his external manifestation was, after all, that of a ninth-level Nascent Soul, achieved with the aid of the Startling Spirit Melody during the Calamity of the Death God. Therefore, to truly achieve God Transformation, he would certainly still need time for consolidation and refinement.

"Your Innate Pure Yang Qi has reached perfection so quickly?"

Despite this, Qi Yuheng was still very surprised.

How many years had it been?

"I have the assistance of my second Primordial Spirit, and also the Innate Fire Essence Inner Core left to me by Patriarch Baiguang..." Chen Mobai offered the excuse he had prepared earlier.

"Although I have great confidence in you, Yuanxu did fail, after all. So, I will still offer you my best wishes; I hope you succeed."

Qi Yuheng nodded and offered his sincere blessings.

"Many thanks!"

Chen Mobai was also deeply moved. After Qianxing and Baiguang had exited the stage, the two of them had imperceptibly become the new Twin Sages of the Immortal Sect, and their friendship had grown even deeper.

When he left, Chen Mobai also made a trip to Qunxian Peak.

Under his Heaven-Reaching Altar and Earth-Responding Spirit, Level Six spiritual energy flowed steadily and ceaselessly, like a gurgling stream, into the seclusion chambers of Chengxuan and Yunhai, where it was refined by two immense and vast Primordial Spirit Manifestations.

Within Chen Mobai's perception, he saw a crimson bronze mirror wreathed in flames and a boundless sea of clouds that seemed to swallow and exhale the cosmos.

With sufficient resources and having validated their respective Grand Dao within the Startling Spirit Melody, both easily transformed their Nascent Souls, elevating them into unique Primordial Spirit Manifestation.

Chen Mobai did not disturb the two who were in seclusion consolidating their realms. Instead, he went to Yuanxu's dwelling.

He could sense that Yuanxu was not cultivating.

However, he hadn't come out; the door remained tightly shut.

Chen Mobai took out his phone and sent Yuanxu a text message. A moment later, a silver light flickered, and Yuanxu teleported before him.

Compared to how Yuanxu used to be—somewhat unkempt but generally clean and tidy—he was now extremely disheveled. What shocked Chen Mobai, however, was that Yuanxu's bald head had actually grown thick, black hair.

"Greetings, True Monarch!"

Yuanxu saw Chen Mobai and instinctively bowed.

At that moment, he also saw Chen Mobai looking at his head in surprise. He couldn't help but remember something and, somewhat flustered, reached up to cover it, wanting to conceal it.

"I heard you failed to achieve God Transformation, and thought I'd come to comfort you. Let's go inside and talk."

Chen Mobai was puzzled internally, but outwardly remained calm.

As he spoke, he was led inside by Yuanxu. The interior was very simple, with only a meditation mat and a large table. The table was covered with various sheets of paper filled with writing, and many more were scattered on the floor.

Chen Mobai glanced around and found that they were all deductions regarding the Way of God Transformation.

"Please forgive this messy sight, sigh!"

Yuanxu conjured a chair out of earth, invited Chen Mobai to sit, then poured a cup of plain boiled water and offered it, a look of sorrow on his face.

"At what critical juncture did you fail?"

Chen Mobai couldn't help but ask. It was widely known that among the three attempting God Transformation, many were more optimistic about Yuanxu, believing he was the most likely to succeed.

"If it were True Monarch Yuheng, I definitely wouldn't have said anything. But to you, I feel I can speak about it. Besides, it's already been exposed just now..."

Yuanxu, however, sighed and began to explain why he had failed to achieve God Transformation.

He pointed to the top of his head.

"When my Nascent Soul was transforming into a Primordial Spirit, I was suddenly pulled into the deepest demonic thoughts of the Earthly Star and saw a continuously rotating great mill..."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai's expression changed to one of shock.

The World-Ending Mill!?

Yuanxu had actually seen it too!

At this moment, the thick black hair on Yuanxu's head suddenly dissolved into wisps of smoke and vanished, revealing his original bald head once more.

Chen Mobai, seeing this scene, was even more surprised, because he could confirm that Yuanxu's hair had genuinely existed just moments ago, and now it was gone. Didn't this mean that even his divine sense, at the God Transformation realm, had been deceived?

"One face of that great mill lit up and transformed into a mirage dragon that merged into my Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness. I also obtained a cultivation method called the Primordial Mirage Demonic Art. Cultivated to its peak, it allows mastery over the Grand Dao of Illusion..."

"Because of this unexpected event, my transforming Primordial Spirit stagnated, ultimately leading to my breakthrough failure. I dared not tell True Monarch Yuheng about this. If only Master were still here..."

"My hair also grew because I curiously experimented with the Primordial Mirage Demonic Art, manifesting illusion into reality..."

Yuanxu sighed. It was because he had collaborated with Chen Mobai on many matters, knew him thoroughly, and if this matter continued to weigh on his mind, he might very well go berserk again. Thus, he decided to reveal the truth.

"The Grand Dao of Illusion... Primordial Mirage Demonic Art..."

After hearing everything, Chen Mobai couldn't help but murmur to himself.

In the past, Qianxing had told him that the Grand Dao of Illusion was precisely the direction he had always strived for, but he had ultimately failed.

So, was the Grand Dao of Illusion cultivated by Qianxing also obtained from the World-Ending Mill?

Thinking of this, Chen Mobai immediately asked Yuanxu if Qianxing had ever taught him any special cultivation methods before, and if this was what caused Yuanxu to be drawn into the Earthly Star's core demonic thoughts during his God Transformation attempt.

"There are many, but they shouldn't have anything to do with Master, should they?"

Yuanxu, however, felt that Qianxing would not harm him and would not teach him demonic cultivation techniques.

"It's not necessarily about harming you. Given the circumstances of the Earthly Star, any method that allows one to achieve God Transformation, regardless of whether it's righteous or demonic, is a good method..."

Chen Mobai said. This was also the prevalent thought among the Immortal Sect's upper echelons; after all, by the Nascent Soul realm, almost everyone practiced at least one forbidden technique. As long as it didn't harm heaven or earth, a forbidden technique could also be considered a righteous path.

However, it would be best to investigate this matter to prevent Yuanxu from encountering such an unexpected situation again when he attempts God Transformation next time.

"Then I'll tell you, and you can discern!"

Yuanxu immediately nodded and told Chen Mobai everything Qianxing had taught him that he believed was related to the Grand Dao of Illusion.

"Have you cultivated a demonic art?"

After listening, Chen Mobai pointed to Yuanxu's bald head. Yuanxu had just used a demonic art to turn illusion into reality, transforming the void into substance, evidently having achieved some mastery in this path.

"As you know, as a researcher, I have strong curiosity. However, I've only researched the methods mentioned above and haven't formally converted to cultivating them yet."

Yuanxu spoke truthfully. However, since he had started researching them, if he still couldn't achieve God Transformation at the end of his lifespan, he would likely, like Lin Daoming, step onto the demonic path.

Chen Mobai did not say much more and continued to ask about the methods of the Primordial Mirage Demonic Art.

Cultivating this required using divine sense to construct an illusory world within one's mind, then gradually turning it into reality. When one achieved Dao Integration, the illusory world would transform into reality; if one could advance further, it would be akin to creation itself!

Yuanxu had currently just attempted within the illusory world to manifest a head of thick black hair for himself, using the Primordial Mirage Demonic Art to make the false true.

This small transformation of illusion into reality naturally succeeded with ease.

It was precisely because of this that even with Chen Mobai's discernment, he believed it to be real.

"It seems you have great talent in the Grand Dao of Illusion. It is precisely for this reason that the World-Ending Mill drew you into its demonic thoughts and imparted the Primordial Mirage Demonic Art to you."

After hearing this, Chen Mobai likely understood the reason.

In the past, he himself, due to excessive slaughter, was mistakenly identified by the World-Ending Mill as a born demonic seed and was taught the Primordial Method of the Nine Tiers, chief among the Three Thousand Heavenly Demons.

It was just that he was lucky; it happened when he comprehended the Dao through the Immortal Soil Spiritual Root. Yuanxu, however, was a bit unlucky; it happened at the critical moment of God Transformation.

"So, can I cultivate it?"

Yuanxu asked, his face full of anticipation.

Although he failed to achieve God Transformation this time, Yuanxu also knew that the Grand Dao of Illusion was more suitable for him.

Given his age, if he switched cultivation now, he could, before his lifespan ran out, finally attempt God Transformation using the Primordial Mirage Demonic Art.

However, this was a demonic art after all. If it didn't receive the approval of a top God Transformation expert from the Immortal Sect, he would only dare to secretly research it and not formally begin cultivating it.

"I'll discuss this matter with True Monarch Yuheng."

Chen Mobai himself didn't mind; he had always been a pragmatist. However, he wasn't the only one making decisions in the Immortal Sect, and Qi Yuheng definitely needed to be informed about the demonic thoughts at the planet's core.

Subsequently, the two of them went to Zhixian Peak together.

After Qi Yuheng finished listening to the matter, he frowned, looking at the bowed Yuanxu before him.

"Your failure to achieve God Transformation actually had such a hidden reason!"

"True Monarch, please forgive my offense. My mind was somewhat disoriented before, so I dared not inform you immediately." Yuanxu immediately admitted his fault.

"Chunyang, what do you think?"

After Qi Yu